Signal buoy



May 6., 1924. I 1,493,034

G. L. GRIFFIN SIGNAL BUOY Filed July 6, 1922 GLGriffinu ATTORNEY INVENTOR Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE LYNDON GRIFFIN, 0F STALwAR-T, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

SIGNAL BUO'Y.

Application filed July 6, 1922. Serial No. 573,203.

minion of Canadafhave invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Buoys, of which the following'isa specification.

The object this invention is to provide a buoy carrylng a signal, or signals, of particular construction and mounted in a particular manner, the buoy being automatically released from'the deck of a ship, in the event that the latter sinks below the surface, and adapted to indicate the location of the vessel.

A further object is to provide a weighted buoy to be connectedto the vessel by a cable, the buoy carrying a plurality of arms extending in various directions and each mounting a reflecting device.

A still further object is to arrange the signal elementssothat the tiltin of the buoy in any direction will leave at least one of the signals projecting upwardly, so that itmay readily be observed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described and claimed, it bein understood that modifications may be ma e within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the device in side elevation, and as connected with and floating near a submerged vessel; Figure 2 shows the buoy in vertical section,the

upper arms, in elevation, being broken away; Figure 3 shows the. device in elevation, and as connected with a winding drum; Figure 4 is a top plan View of the buoy.

A drum 10 is suitably mounted on a vessel, and around this drum a cable 11 is coiled, a short section of chain being provided at each end, these portions being designated 12 and 13. Swivel-connections are shown at 14 and 15.

{The buoy 16 is connected with cable 11, and'flis provided with a weighted lower end 19, tending to keep the buoy in'an approximately vertical position except when there is considerable tension on the cable.

FA plurality of arms 20 are connected with thebuoy, and extend in Various directions with'reference thereto, each arm carrying a reflecting device 21. The reflecting surfaces makev it possible to distinguish the device more'clearly than would otherwise be the case, and owing to the position of the variouts; arms 20, at least one or two of arms will project upwardly-when there is suflicient tension on the cableto cause the buoy totilt. The temporary tilting due to wave action is also provided for, and the fact that the reflecting devices, or some of them will alternately be invisible and then visible, will increase the effect desired.

A- receptacle or housing 24 may be provided for the buoy.

Opposite arms 20 are connected across the top by the curved portions 20 intersecting atv 25 in the manner shown. This arrangement of the arms is intended to prevent the device from becoming fouled in the rigging. The connected arms approximate yokes.

Having thus described the invention I claim:

A buoy comprising a body portion, weighted at its lower end, arms extending from said buoy in various directions, and re fleeting devices carried by the arms, said arms extending over the top of the body portion and above the reflecting devices.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE L-YNDON GRIFFIN. 

